Inside Preps: It's Been A Hectic, Exciting 4 Months

Published: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 11:44 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 11:44 p.m.

By AIMEE SACHS | THE LEDGER
It seems like only yesterday I wrote my first Inside Preps column during the basketball playoffs.
Four months and thousands of miles later, the Polk County prep sports scene has cooled off for the summer. Athletes and coaches are recharging their batteries to prepare for the fall season.
The past few months have been nothing short of hectic, but also exciting.
We saw the Winter Haven boys and girls basketball teams return to the Class 6A state semifinals as well as the Bartow boys and Haines City girls also making appearances at The Lakeland Center. Polk County basketball teams went a collective 0-for-4 at state, but carried themselves with dignity and grace in the face of disappointment.
We saw Chase Krutzky win a state wrestling title, and Adam Lane brought home a weightlifting championship before heading to Gainesville to play football.
We saw Nelson and Holleman Hughes of the All Saints boys tennis team win state titles in No. 2 and No. 3 singles on the same court.
We saw the Lake Wales softball team seemingly come out of nowhere to go on a magical run to win the Class 5A state championship in Vero Beach.
We saw the Haines City baseball team not only advance to its first Class 7A state Final Four, but make it all the way to the championship game.
We also saw some of our athletes achieve great things.
Bartow forward Chris Perry was chosen to be part of an elite 18-and-under team representing the United States in the World Championships in France.
George Jenkins soccer star Jessie Scarpa was named the 2012-13 Gatorade Florida girls soccer player of the year.
Dozens of student athletes have signed athletic scholarships to continue playing the sports they love while also furthering their education.
And that's all in a short time frame. I wasn't lucky enough to be here in the fall to witness Shykeem Pitts' game-winning pick-6 that is becoming a part of Polk County lore.
So you can imagine how much excitement is in store for me come August when Polk County football season finally arrives. It's not just football, though. I'll also get a taste of volleyball, cross country, swimming and diving, golf, and did I mention football?
In anticipation of the upcoming football season, I have given myself a little summer homework assignment. The goal is to reach as many Polk County schools as possible in the summer to check out practices and get to know players and coaches.
I'll also be shooting video and taping interviews with coaches and players at practice that we'll post on PolkPreps.com as part of our football preview.
So if you're sick of watching me and Bill Kemp ramble on and on every week, you can look forward to actually seeing the players we're talking about. If that goes well, we will continue to post video packages throughout the fall.
Until then, you stay classy, Polk County.

<p>
<strong>By AIMEE SACHS | THE LEDGER</strong><br/>
It seems like only yesterday I wrote my first Inside Preps column during the basketball playoffs.<br/>
Four months and thousands of miles later, the Polk County prep sports scene has cooled off for the summer. Athletes and coaches are recharging their batteries to prepare for the fall season.<br/>
The past few months have been nothing short of hectic, but also exciting.<br/>
We saw the Winter Haven boys and girls basketball teams return to the Class 6A state semifinals as well as the Bartow boys and Haines City girls also making appearances at The Lakeland Center. Polk County basketball teams went a collective 0-for-4 at state, but carried themselves with dignity and grace in the face of disappointment.<br/>
We saw Chase Krutzky win a state wrestling title, and Adam Lane brought home a weightlifting championship before heading to Gainesville to play football.<br/>
We saw Nelson and Holleman Hughes of the All Saints boys tennis team win state titles in No. 2 and No. 3 singles on the same court.<br/>
We saw the Lake Wales softball team seemingly come out of nowhere to go on a magical run to win the Class 5A state championship in Vero Beach.<br/>
We saw the Haines City baseball team not only advance to its first Class 7A state Final Four, but make it all the way to the championship game.<br/>
We also saw some of our athletes achieve great things.<br/>
Bartow forward Chris Perry was chosen to be part of an elite 18-and-under team representing the United States in the World Championships in France.<br/>
George Jenkins soccer star Jessie Scarpa was named the 2012-13 Gatorade Florida girls soccer player of the year.<br/>
Dozens of student athletes have signed athletic scholarships to continue playing the sports they love while also furthering their education.<br/>
And that's all in a short time frame. I wasn't lucky enough to be here in the fall to witness Shykeem Pitts' game-winning pick-6 that is becoming a part of Polk County lore.<br/>
So you can imagine how much excitement is in store for me come August when Polk County football season finally arrives. It's not just football, though. I'll also get a taste of volleyball, cross country, swimming and diving, golf, and did I mention football?<br/>
In anticipation of the upcoming football season, I have given myself a little summer homework assignment. The goal is to reach as many Polk County schools as possible in the summer to check out practices and get to know players and coaches.<br/>
I'll also be shooting video and taping interviews with coaches and players at practice that we'll post on PolkPreps.com as part of our football preview.<br/>
So if you're sick of watching me and Bill Kemp ramble on and on every week, you can look forward to actually seeing the players we're talking about. If that goes well, we will continue to post video packages throughout the fall.<br/>
Until then, you stay classy, Polk County.</p>